Men Made: Rites of Passage through Gender-Based Violence

This paper explores Nadia Hashimi’s novels, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell and One Half from the East, as metatexts that bring to light complex father figures within Afghan society. The narratives contrast two archetypal father roles: the abusive figure embodying generational trauma and the loving, supportive father who disrupts this cycle through acceptance and compassion. By exploring Afghanistan’s socio-political landscape as a war-torn nation, this study analyzes the depiction of gender-based violence (GBV) experienced by men and its unrecognized impact on familial and social structures.Through the lens of psychological and institutional violence, this research interrogates the construction of masculinity as both a product and perpetuator of violent socialization. Drawing on the frameworks of Jeff Hearn and Nancy Dowd, this analysis exposes the brutal process of ‘becoming a man’ in a context where the ideals of masculinity are inextricably tied to aggression and dominance. This study also aims to offer insight into the complexities of trauma and identity shaped by generational and systemic violence in Afghan society.

Keywords: GBV on men, Institutional Violence, Psychological Violence, Afghan men